Thrustmaster HOTAS WARTHOG: Sticks of Joy

I never considered myself a fan of flight simulators, meticulously studying the virtual cockpit of each aircraft, in order to later write on the forums about the discrepancy between the two screws and the font on the lower right switch of the autopilot operating mode. But at the same time he was not averse to flying sometimes, for which he used the ancient Lodzitek joystick. Over the years, the mechanics had worn out, and the “Center” position corresponded to anything, but not neutral at all, and the button, usually responsible for machine gun fire, was pressed only when pressed in a special way. Not to say that it upset me enough to go buy a new set - I'm an amateur, not a professional. But here, providence decided everything for me. In a very unusual way, but still, a set from the French fell into my hands - Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog. After my ancient joystick, it was like moving from an old broken-down UAZ to a new BMW.

What is this all about?

To begin with, this is not only a joystick, but a kit that also includes the engine control knob. Together they form the HOTAS control logic (Hands on the “gas pedal” and control stick), which is actively used by American aircraft designers, in which it is possible to fully control equipment in combat conditions without removing hands from the handles and, accordingly, without being distracted by the search for the necessary switches - all at hand. Outwardly, they are an exact copy of similar controls of the legendary US Air Force A10C Thunderbolt attack aircraft. Moreover, according to the creators, all the buttons, switches and knobs require exactly the same effort required by the real pilots of this aircraft to press. And if I confirm the outward resemblance, I can only say one thing about the clicks - the metal switches feel and click exactly as they did in early childhood, when I often went on a warship.

Together with the mentioned switches, there are only 32 buttons, a micro-joystick and an eight-position POV switch on the throttle block. All this looks impressive, which is facilitated by the green - “like in the present” - backlighting of the toggle switches and a massive base, thanks to which in any hot fight the entire unit remains in place, not moving a millimeter. Also on the right side there is a slider in the “real” A10 that controls the force required to move the engine control knobs. But in the replica for this there is a separate regulator in the upper part, and the slider can be used as an additional control. To control the position of the control knobs, magnetic sensors based on the Hall effect are used. This provides registration of 16384 positions (14 bits) and ensures that that after a couple of years, mechanical wear will not affect the accuracy of positioning. In the minimum position, the handles move only after a slight pull-up, which does not allow the engines to accidentally turn off the engines during the battle and begin to search for the catapult handle.

The joystick itself has only nineteen buttons, but then under the thumb there are immediately three four-position switches and another eight-position POV controller. This insanely helps in the process of finding and capturing a target, allowing you to control several systems at once without taking your hands off the controls and without forcing you to search for the necessary buttons on the keyboard. The “machine-gun" button under the index finger has two degrees of depression - like a release in cameras. In A10C, a light press activates the recoil compensation system, and a full press already turns on the gun. Given that, for example, a similar 2A42, standing on our Ka-50, when shooting in the literal sense, deploys a helicopter, this is far from superfluous.

Similar magnetic sensors are responsible for positioning the joystick itself, providing accuracy of 65,535 positions on each axis. If at first this seems unnecessary, then after the first bombing all claims disappear. And, as in the case of ore, the use of a non-mechanical control system ensures that after two years the position of "Center" will be the same as now. The wide and massive base allows you not to worry about the safety of the device in any conditions.

There is also the opportunity to replace the current pen with a younger brother - Cougar ten years ago, a special option for those who are used to the old, proven iron. At the same time, the positioning system will remain new, only the handle with buttons is subject to replacement, so this action will not lead to a loss of accuracy.

How is that at all?

There were no problems with the connection - just put the software that comes with the kit and free up two USB ports. The devices are completely independent and can be used both together and separately. In addition to the drivers themselves, the disk also has a certain TARGET software package - special software for controlling and configuring the joystick and throttle. This program allows you to configure and configure almost any device from Thrustmaster, including even the MFD Cougar- A replica of displays installed in American aircraft with a full set of buttons. You can also create separate macros for any of the control devices. I confess, having understood the local scripting language, I wrote special macros for some routine actions at the touch of a single button - while the list of commands included both keyboard keystrokes and delays.

For example, just to start the engine of the Ka-50 helicopter, the chain looked something like this: turn on the batteries, turn on the fuel meter, turn on the self-diagnosis system, turn off the hydraulic system alarm, turn on the radio, get permission to start, turn on the fuel pumps, turn on the fuel line of the APU, start the APU, turn on the system control the left engine, turn on the fuel pump of the left engine, move the engine selector switch to the "left" position, press the engine start button, and then remove the engine stop valve. Then repeat the procedure for the right. That is, if desired, you can record almost a separate program for each click. In addition, in fact, the interface between the computer and the joystick, TARGETallows plaque to instantly update the firmware of devices with the click of a button, adjust the backlight, response to pressing and other little things dear to the heart.

We turn to the most delicious - how does it behave in the game. Since I received such a device, it was a sin not to test it in the Eagle Dynamics simulator “A10C Warthog”, which was ideally suited for it . Yes, this can be considered an advertisement - but the game was created taking into account the existence of this joystick and in the control settings all the teams are already tied to the corresponding buttons and switches, which requires minimal reconfiguration, only if you are used to other bindings.

Also in the settings there is an item that allows you to synchronize the state of control of the aircraft with the joystick at the start of the flight, which allows you to leave on, for example, a missile defense system and no longer bother with its constant inclusion. Given the thorough simulation of the aircraft in the game, including the most recent toggle switch to turn on the system for checking the liquid oxygen supply sensor, the use of the kit from Thrustmaster in the game adds an already excellent simulator to the present effect of presence. James Cameron with their Avatars is resting. Since all the controls correspond to this particular aircraft, you feel like a real A10 pilot on a combat mission, realizing that somewhere in Afghanistan, an attack pilot uses exactly the same switches, similarly, he guides the target frame with a small lever,

Precision control beyond praise. Formerly, land bombing was the most hated action for me, but now it has suddenly become easy and simple. Indeed, at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour, the slightest deviation from the course ensures a bomb drop in tens of meters from the desired point. With this joystick, the plane began to react to the slightest course correction, allowing you to destroy unguided bombs and missiles with targets that I had previously hardly hit with guided laser-guided bombs. After some time, you get so used to the switches that all the actions are carried out intuitively, like combos in the old arcades on "Sege" - switching to battle mode, choosing weapons, searching for target capture, ejecting traps - not a second is wasted searching for the buttons on the keyboard .

Total

In general, this is probably the best control device that fell into my hands. Its only drawback for me is the overly sensitive micro-joystick on the ORE, which is used to move the aiming frame, and the switch that is too easy to switch on the left side of the handle. It seems that just about something inside will break and begin to walk back and forth. Otherwise, both modules look like indestructible monoliths, the build quality does not cause the slightest complaints. If I had this joystick about five years ago, I would definitely fly out of the institute, spending more time in the sky than on earth. This is probably the last line between the "casual" pilot and those flyers who equip in their room an exact copy of the cockpit of their favorite aircraft, lovingly selecting and customizing every detail. Next - just go to the flight school.